Bosso Back on Top After Late Mambare Winner

From Tobias Mandoreba in Hwange

Hwange………………………..(0)0

Highlanders……………………(0)1

A Masimba Mambare free-kick deep into injury time ended stubborn Hwange’s resilience and helped Highlanders shoot back to the top of the Castle Lager Premiership standings at the Colliery yesterday.

On a day when the Premiership marathon took another twist with champions Dynamos falling at Chicken Inn in Bulawayo, Bosso had their in-form forward Mambare to thank for the priceless points that could prove crucial when the title race enters its home stretch, yet the game had appeared headed for a deadlock.

But with the three minutes of time added on almost up, Highlanders won a free kick at the edge of the Hwange box.

Mambare — who had realised that the host defence was completely off guard — quickly took the free-kick directing his shot into the near post past a diving Timothy Sibanda to send the black and white masses who had descended on the Colliery into delirium.

While Bosso were celebrating, the Hwange technical bench would have none of it as they mobbed referee Hardley Ndazi claiming that Mambare had not taken the free-kick properly. The fracas led to the sending off of assistant coach Mebelo Njekwa as the coaches and the home fans seethed with anger.

Hwange’s Zambian team manager Tenant Chilumba and coach Nation Dube refused to comment as matters threatened to boil over in the rising tensions after the final whistle. Chilumba’s fellow compatriot Kelvin Kaindu was however, on cloud nine after the match.

“It was a good game for us though it was unfortunate that the home team employed delaying tactics during the entire game. It was a sweet thing to win at the end of the day,” said the soft-spoken gaffer, spotting a T-shirt inscribed “It shall be well” at the back.

It certainly looks well for him, but it’s a sad story for Chilumba and his lieutenants who have now gone for seven games without a win. The coal-miners have only two points (from two draws) to show for their efforts in their last seven matches. Despite the protests from Hwange, referee Ndazi was adamant the goal was genuine.

“When you give a free-kick, the benefiting team can take it quickly and that is what happened in that instance,” Ndazi said.

Hwange were also served a reminder that football can be cruel at times as the coal-miners deserved at least a point for their determined play, which however, counted for nothing after Mambare’s sucker punch.

Away from the drama which came at the end, it was the home team, under pressure to deliver who had better opportunities especially in the opening half. In the fourth minute Tawanda Mareya blazed over the bar from close range after he had benefited from a clever chest down by playmaker Farai Vimisai.

Mareya shook his head in disbelief four minutes later as his effort at goal crashed against the crossbar and landed in the open arms of goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda.

Bosso came out of their shell in the 12th minute when midfielder Atlast Musasa embarked on a mazy run on the right flank before sending in a delicate cross which was missed by an out-of-form Bhekimpilo Ncube as he attempted to ghost in with a header.

The visitors then started to show why they are true championship material when they again knocked on the Hwange door, only for Simon Munawa to miss from close range after being cleverly fed by goal scorer Mambare.

The coal-miners hit back in the 21st minute with a dangerous raid involving Vimisai and Francisco Zekumbawire but the end product was a rushed and disappointing effort from the latter.

Mambare continued to shine in the middle of the park, but his passes found the dreadlocked Bosso forward Ncube on a picnic. He was justifiably pulled off for Beavan Chikaka in the 46th minute.

The home fans jumped in the air 10 minutes from the breather only to watch in disbelief as Daniel Kamunenga’s low shot flew past the left upright with Sibanda diving in vain.

The hosts were not done and in the 38th minute the vocal Highlanders had their hearts in their mouths as Winston Mhango’s curling free-kick grazed some paint off the right upright post. Then came the coal-miners’ best chance of the afternoon on the stroke of half-time.

Vimisai came face-to-face with Sibanda who did well to dive to his left to smother the attacking midfielder’s effort. Hwange came back from the breather with guns blazing, but a goal proved elusive.

Highlanders then tilted the game in their favour with some inspired substitution which saw Peter “Rio” Moyo coming in for Milton Ncube in the 62nd minute and Heritani Masuku replacing Bruce Kangwa in the 72nd minute.

The two added fire-power into the visitors attack which was now concentrated on the right flank. Not to be outdone Chilumba also threw in the robust Tongai Mamina for Daniel Kamunenga in the 65th minute, and the substitute immediately made an impact, harassing the Bosso rear-guard.

Masuku and Moyo had combined in a deadly manner before the latter hit the side netting towards the end. That was before Mambare cleverly popped up with his last gasp winner. Hwange, who began life without injured skipper Rodwell Chinyengetere, have now slumped into the relegation zone after a promising start to the season. The Herald

TEAMS:

Hwange: T Sibanda; A Katebe; G Ndlovu; M Mungadze; D Boriwondo; O Mpofu; F Vimisai (M Longwe75th min); D Kamunenga (T Mamina 65th min); W Mhango;T Mareya; F Zekumbawire.

Highlanders: A Sibanda; E Mudzingwa; B Kangwa (H Masuku 72nd min); M Mambare; M Maphosa; I Mapuranga; S Munawa; A Musasa; B Ncube (B Chikaka 46th min); M Ncube (P Moyo 62nd min); O Zibande.